Influential Antifa Leader Has Ties to North Dakota Group

Antifascists demonstrate in Portland, Ore., where a rally organized by the far-right Patriot Prayer group was met by a large counterprotest, Aug. 4, 2018. Skirmishes broke out through the afternoon, and Portland police were out in force, moving first to break up some groups of counterprotesters, using flash-bang grenades and pepper spray. (Hilary Swift/Copyright 2018 The New York Times)

A report out from the Daily Caller identifies a man named Jose Alcoff as an organizer of often violent and unlawful left wing protests, including the “occupy” movement and the “Smash DC” protesters who have harassed right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson.

“The Daily Caller News Foundation has determined that an influential Antifa leader uses aliases to spread radical and often violent rhetoric while concealing his actual identity,” the report states. It goes on to identify Alcoff as someone who has called for political violence, the overthrow of the U.S. government, and the dismantling of law enforcement.

Also pointed out in that report is a connection between Alcoff and a group called the North Dakota Economic Security & Prosperity Alliance.

The post identifies Alcoff as representing Americans for Financial Reform, which the Daily Caller report also identifies as one of his occupations.

The website for the NDESPA describes the group as “a collaborative of diverse organizations operating by consensus that exists to inform, develop, and advance public policies that secure economic security and financial freedom for all North Dakotans to live their best life.” The website also identifies a laundry list of “partners” in its activism, including the AARP, North Dakota United (the state’s public worker/teacher union), the North Dakota Women’s Network, and the North Dakota Farmers Union.

I reached out via email to Scott Fry and Renee Stoller, both listed as contacts for the NDESPA, but neither immediately responded this morning (Fry’s email kicked back an auto response saying he is on vacation and that inquiries should be directed to Stoller). A call to Fry’s cell phone also went unanswered, as did a call to the group’s direct line and a message sent to their Facebook page.